Driver hit with tire iron at racetrack, report says

Published: Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 6:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 6:15 p.m.

A fight at the Ocala Speedway at Bubba Raceway Park at 9050 NW Gainesville Road early Sunday resulted in one Alachua County man being hospitalized and the owner of another race car booked into the Marion County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery.

Raymond Wheeler, of Alachua, a race car driver, was at the window of a car reportedly owned by Donald Winne, 52, of Dunnellon. Witnesses said Winne pulled Wheeler from the car and hit him in the head with a tire iron, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. Winne told deputies that Wheeler was fighting with the driver of his car. The driver was not identified.

Wheeler, who was hospitalized at Munroe Regional Medical Center, later told deputies he “went over to speak with the other driver, at which time he was struck in the head and does not remember anything else,” according to the report.

<p>A fight at the Ocala Speedway at Bubba Raceway Park at 9050 NW Gainesville Road early Sunday resulted in one Alachua County man being hospitalized and the owner of another race car booked into the Marion County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery.</p><p>Raymond Wheeler, of Alachua, a race car driver, was at the window of a car reportedly owned by Donald Winne, 52, of Dunnellon. Witnesses said Winne pulled Wheeler from the car and hit him in the head with a tire iron, according to a Sheriff's Office report. Winne told deputies that Wheeler was fighting with the driver of his car. The driver was not identified.</p><p>Wheeler, who was hospitalized at Munroe Regional Medical Center, later told deputies he “went over to speak with the other driver, at which time he was struck in the head and does not remember anything else,” according to the report.</p>